As the world waits for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to begin next week, this weekend in and around Fort Worth will be full of a nice variety of events. Choices include four theater productions (including a Broadway tour), three concerts, screenings of an acclaimed new film, an opera, the opening of a new art exhibition, a screening of a London theater production, and a visit from one of the most popular comedians working today.
Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. If you want more options, check out the calendar for an even longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, June 4
Comedian Nate Bargatze will perform twice on June 6 at Dickies Arena.
Onstage in Bedford presents The Emperor's New Clothes
In the full-length musical The Emperor's New Clothes, Hans Christian Anderson's tale of an emperor who's a slave to fashion is expanded and turned on its head. Lampooning everything from high fashion and pretentious celebrities to pompous politicians and con artists, the whimsical show features music evocative of the Golden Age of Broadway mixed with modern comic sensibilities. The production runs through June 21 at Onstage in Bedford.
Treaty Oak Revival in concert
Country rock band Treaty Oak Revival was in town just seven months ago, having seemingly graduated permanently to bigger venues with a show at Dickies Arena. But despite a couple of big hits off of their 2025 album, West Texas Degenerate, they still enjoy the intimacy of putting on a smaller show at a place like Billy Bob's Texas, where they'll play again on Thursday.
Friday, June 5
Magnolia at the Modern: The Christophers
A mainstay of the London art scene since his starry breakout in the creative explosion of the 1960s, Julian Sklar (Ian McKellen) has drifted into a cluttered, self-imposed seclusion. His two estranged children (James Corden, Jessica Gunning) enlist Lori (Michaela Coel), a young painter and sometime-forger, to pose as a prospective assistant and gain access to a fabled series of unfinished canvases Julian has buried deep in his home studio, in a deceptive bid to secure an inheritance for themselves. The Christophers will screen six times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Opera Arlington presents Carmen
Inspired by the upcoming World Cup, Opera Arlington’s production of Carmen will reimagine Bizet’s classic in the vibrant atmosphere of 1920s Spain during the euphoric aftermath of the Spanish national soccer team’s historic Olympic medal victory. Escamillo, a dashing star footballer, has charisma and bravado as formidable on the stage as on the pitch. Carmen, an itinerant Romani worker as spirited as she is free, entrances the rigid and tradition-bound soldier Don José, and their connection ignites like a match struck in the dark. There will be performances on Friday and Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Arlington.
Amphibian Stage presents SparkFest
Amphibian Stage's SparkFest is an annual celebration of live entertainment which this year will celebrate Latine artists. Over the course of 10 days, it will present a variety of events, including theater, comedy, and more. The final weekend of the festival showcases staged readings of three new plays and the 4th Annual SparkFest Acting Competition. The event takes place almost daily through June 14.
Theatre Arlington presents The Wiz
A beloved Broadway gem, The Wiz infuses L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with a dazzling mix of rock, gospel, and soul music. The timeless tale of Dorothy’s adventures through the Land of Oz is a fun, family-friendly, modern musical. The production runs through June 21 at Theatre Arlington.
Broadway at the Bass presents Hadestown
Hadestown intertwines two mythic tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — as it invites the audience on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell’s beguiling melodies and director Rachel Chavkin’s poetic imagination pit industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love. The 2019 Tony Award winner for Best Musical will have five performances through Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.
Jake Owen in concert
Country singer Jake Owen is one of those musicians who's experienced a steady stream of success without crossing the threshold over to superstardom. Since his 2006 debut album, Startin' with Me, almost all of his albums have reached the top 10 on the Billboard Country charts, and he's had plenty of hits, including three No. 1 songs. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas in support of his 2025 album, Dreams to Dream.
Saturday, June 6
Amon Carter Museum of American Art presents "Here Lyeth: Grave Rubbings by Ann Parker and Avon Neal"
"Here Lyeth: Grave Rubbings by Ann Parker and Avon Neal" presents a compelling look at a mid-20th century effort to document early American gravestone art through the practice of grave rubbing. Featuring over 20 original grave rubbings by photographer Ann Parker and multimedia artist Avon Neal, the exhibition highlights a unique artistic tradition that is both historically grounded and visually striking. It will remain on display through November 8.
National Theatre Live presents The Playboy of the Western World
Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton) joins Éanna Hardwicke (The Sixth Commandment) and Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls) in John Millington Synge’s riveting play of youth and self-discovery. Pegeen Flaherty’s life is turned upside down when a young man walks into her pub claiming that he’s killed his father. Instead of being shunned, the killer becomes a local hero and begins to win hearts, that is until a second man unexpectedly arrives on the scene. This screening of a live production on London's West End will be at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Nate Bargatze: Big Dumb Eyes Tour
Nate Bargatze is one of the biggest comedians in the world, selling out arenas across the country with his brand of clean and relatable comedy. In addition to his constant touring, Bargatze just released his first movie, The Breadwinner. He'll perform twice on Saturday at Dickies Arena, with both shows being recorded for his next Netflix comedy special.
Dexter and the Moonrocks in concert
It's safe to say that not too many big bands come out of the tiny North Texas town of Throckmorton (pop. 727 as of 2020), but Dexter and the Moonrocks have changed all that. They have released four EPs in five years, including two in 2025, and their recent song "Freakin' Out" was a bonafide hit, rising to No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100. They'll make their debut at Billy Bob's Texas.
